Linger Read Online Free Page A

Domme gave her subs what they needed, after all.
    The minutes ticked by. Slowly. Excruciatingly so. Scarlett contemplated sitting on her hands to stop herself from fidgeting, sensing that this sub would use any sign of nerves on her part as ammunition to keep her from breaking him down.
    When a low male voice spoke beside her, Scarlett welcomed the distraction.
    â€œMistress.” The man kneeling at her feet was young,probably close to Scarlett’s own twenty-four years, with close-cropped chestnut hair and eyes she knew to be green, though they were lowered with proper deference.
    His muscled body was naked save for a pair of black briefs that rode low on his hips. Scarlett let herself appreciate the view, as well as the manners.
    â€œBrendan.” With the toe of her boot, she tilted the man’s face up. Luca had arranged for a scene between her and Bren, who was delightfully submissive to his core, while Scarlett had been in training.
    He had been everything she wanted—on paper. But sometimes the spark just wasn’t there.
    It hadn’t been there with any of her submissives. Not until tonight.
    Scarlett found herself somewhat disappointed that Bren didn’t raise his eyes to look at her, even though he let her turn his face in her direction. So well trained. So perfectly submissive.
    It didn’t do a thing for her.
    â€œWhat do you have planned this evening, Bren?” Finally, he looked up at her, and when she saw the eagerness in his expression, Scarlett cringed internally, realizing her mistake and struggling to rectify it. “Would you like me to ask Luca to arrange a scene for you?”
    Bren’s face fell, and Scarlett could have kicked herself.
    â€œIf you are otherwise occupied, Mistress, then perhaps I will just observe tonight.” No reproach, no overt jealousy.
    She hadn’t acknowledged it consciously until right at that moment . . . but she wanted that spark of fire in a sexual partner. She wanted someone who required something more from her, someone whom she had to break apart before building him back up.
    She dared a glance at the sub she had left kneeling in themiddle of the club’s floor. Logan was still in place—she doubted he’d moved even an inch. But his muscles were rigid, tension radiating from every line of his body.
    His face was set in a ferocious glare and he stared daggers at Bren.
    â€œOh.” Scarlett should have had her full focus on the sub kneeling before her, but she couldn’t take her eyes away from Logan. He was breathtaking in his fury.
    Alpha, indeed.
    On his knees, Bren shifted, catching Scarlett’s attention again. She schooled her face into kind dismissal.
    She liked him; she really did. And their scene together had been fun—he’d been very patient with her neophyte nerves.
    She might have even scened with him again tonight, if not for two things.
    One, she was leaving tomorrow. If he was getting attached, it would be cruel to encourage him.
    And two . . . Her gaze was drawn back to Logan, who looked like he might stalk across the floor at any moment and shove Bren aside for a chance to get her.
    Yes, two was the ferocious alpha male who dared her to make him hers.
    â€œEnjoy your evening, Bren.” Scarlett nodded in dismissal, steeling herself against his disappointment. But really, he was better off with someone else.
    She watched the muscles of his strong back ripple as he moved away and reflected that he would have no trouble at all finding another Mistress to play with. Or a Master, if he was interested.
    But this Mistress was taken, at least for tonight.
    Turning back to Logan, Scarlett started when she saw Mistress Avery stalking back toward him. Submissive poaching was not encouraged at Veritas or at any kink club.
    But if he wanted to go with the other woman, she wasn’t about to stop him. It was his choice—it was always the sub’s choice.
    His body was